Chapter 115
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: A Fortune for Fortune
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Countless items were put up for auction.
While players listed their own finds, the real treasures were the items submitted by the Transcendent Beings.
These were weapons enhanced with fragments of the divine and items imbued with various special effects.
Their prices were steep, but with lives on the line, those with the funds would bid to their absolute limit.
Of course, among the items occasionally listed, some were a bit baffling even to the players.
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[Machete's Fortune Coin (★★★★)]
※ This item contains a fragment of a Transcendent Being's divinity. (Its effects are far superior to ordinary items.)
* Classification: Consumable
* Upon use, the coin is flipped. Different effects apply depending on whether it lands on heads or tails.
※ Heads of Fortune: Greatly increases luck.
※ Tails of Void: Nothing happens.
* Description: A ★★★★-grade Fortune Coin created for commercial purposes by the transcendent being, the Great Golden Goblin Machete. The risk involved allows for a significantly larger boost in luck. / P.S. Life is all about one big shot. Why not test your luck?
[Preppyon's Four-Leaf Clover (★★★★)]
[Bo's Augmented Luck Potion (★★★★)]
…
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【Japan/Nin-nin: Does anyone actually buy this stuff?】
【Korea/Bubble Tea Nom Nom: If you had a high-grade random box, it might be worth a shot, but otherwise… it’s kinda meh.】
【Korea/Sion Jungle: Seriously, it’s an item for suckers or high-level players. I mean, let’s be real, I’d rather use an item that gives a permanent stat boost than this.】
It was a consumable item that, at best, offered a vague luck boost and was gone after a single use.
Contrary to what other players, who saw it as a waste, thought, luck-related items sold out as soon as they were listed on the auction house.
And at the center of it all was none other than K-Honeybee!
There was a very good reason why Seong-hyeok, with his immense financial power, swept up every luck-related item in every auction.
*Gulp, gulp-*
*Munch, munch-*
Thanks to a few competitors, the Luck Potions and Four-Leaf Clovers each went for a hefty 100,000 coins.
After consuming them as if they were water and snacks, Seong-hyeok’s next move wasn’t to use a skill.
*Jingle-*
A single coin rested in Seong-hyeok’s hand.
It was Machete's Fortune Coin.
“This should be enough to get heads.”
Using the luck gained from the Luck Potion on Machete's Fortune Coin.
It was a move that would leave other players with decent funds speechless at the sheer extravagance.
But Seong-hyeok, who had planned this from the start, acted without hesitation.
*Flick- whirrrrrrr~*
The coin spun in the air upon use.
Normally, whether it landed on heads or tails would be left purely to chance, but things changed when you applied a little trickery to luck itself.
[For this action only, you will be blessed with greatly enhanced luck.]
The effects of the Luck Potion and Four-Leaf Clover he had used earlier kicked in.
As a result, the outcome was just as he had expected.
[The result of Machete's Fortune Coin (★★★★) is heads.]
[The Heads of Fortune effect is applied.]
[For your next action only, you will be blessed with massively enhanced luck!]
The bizarre feat of using a luck item to enhance another luck item.
It was an act of pure financial extravagance, but for Seong-hyeok, it was by no means a waste.
“Whew, shall we begin?”
The queen bee was, without a doubt, the most influential being on the honeybee farm.
With only one chance every 20 days, wasn’t it proper etiquette to attempt it with the maximum amount of luck possible?
[The transcendent being, the Great Golden Goblin Machete, nods, remarking that this one knows how to do business. They sponsor you 25,000 coins.]
[The transcendent being, Insect King Phrainkyto, cannot contain their pounding heart. They sponsor you 30,000 coins.]
[The transcendent being, Insect Queen Nainkyto, anticipates a good result with eyes full of affection. She sponsors you 80,000 coins.]
[The transcendent being, The Patient One, Zion, forcibly suppresses their anticipation. They sponsor you 50,000 coins.]
…
As if agreeing with Seong-hyeok’s choice, the Transcendent Beings continuously sent messages of support.
[Using skill, Dimensional Queen Bee Capture (Lv.9).]
[The Honeybee Guardian's Net is cast into the dimension.]
The Honeybee Guardian’s net shot forth, accompanied by the cheers of those who had now become avid fans of the bees.
To be honest, Seong-hyeok himself didn’t have much faith in his own luck, a belief forged through life experience.
But perhaps luck, paved with money, was something he could trust after all.
[Capture successful! Would you like to register the Star Sapphire Queen Bee (★★★★+) to your available slots? YES / NO]
※ Selecting NO will result in a failed capture.
A 4-star+ grade queen bee was captured, making the hefty sum he spent feel worthwhile.
The star pattern etched onto her refreshing blue abdomen exuded a mystical aura.
It was impossible to tell just by looking which of her organs had been evolved.
But for that very reason, Seong-hyeok’s choice was all but decided.
“YES.”
[Star Sapphire Queen Bee (★★★★+) has been registered to player Yu Seong-hyeok. Remaining queen bee slots: 5 / 6]
Even without checking, her high grade of 4-star+ was obvious.
Regardless of which organ had evolved, she was bound to have a massive impact on the honeybee farm.
“I can’t stand the curiosity.”
Besides, if he was curious about her stats, all he had to do was register her as a subordinate and check.
*Wheeeeeee~*
Seong-hyeok welcomed the blue star that flew toward him.
He took in the status of the Star Sapphire Queen Bee.
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[Star Sapphire Queen Bee (★★★★+)]
※ Stinger Gland Evolution has been performed once.
※ Venom Gland Focused Evolution has been performed once.
※ Recovery-type Enhancement Evolution has been performed once using the Star-Embracing Healing Gem (★★★★-) as a supplementary material.
* Has not yet found a home.
* Swarm Size: 0
* Growth Rate: 0%
* Available Superior Species Emergence Process: Star Sapphire Healing Venom Bee (★★★-) -> 7.5% (+2.6), Star Sapphire Nebula Legion Commander Bee (★★★★) - Elite Bee -> 1.052% (+0.422)
* Egg-laying Speed: 5 per 2 minutes
* Hatching Speed: 16 hours
* Emergence Process: 35 hours
* Skills: Egg Laying (Lv.7), Queen's Pheromone (Lv.9), Stinger (Lv.11), Flight (Lv.7), Queen's Pheromone - Recovery Enhancement (Lv.5), Queen Bee Star Formation (Lv.4)
[Queen's Pheromone - Recovery Enhancement (Lv.5)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 300
* Effect (Active): For 30 minutes, increases the defensive capabilities of all bees within a 10km radius by 30% and greatly enhances the efficiency of recovery speed and healing-related items and skills.
[Queen Bee Star Formation (Lv.4)]
* Classification: Skill
* Designated Bees: 0 / 40
* Mana Cost: 1,000
* Effect (Active): Engraves a star formation onto a designated bee. (No cooldown)
* Effect (Passive): Increases all stats of the queen's designated bees by up to 200%. This effect grows stronger at night.
* Description: An ability acquired by absorbing the Star-Embracing Healing Gem. As the queen directly consumed it, its effects have been greatly enhanced. The effect is maximized on starry nights. As the level increases, more bees can be designated, and the stat increase becomes larger.
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“…”
To summarize the blue queen’s incredible power in one word, she was essentially a healer and a buffer.
Of course, with her venom glands having developed toward healing, her offensive capabilities were conversely weakened, but that wasn’t much of a problem for Seong-hyeok.
After all, bees were creatures that lived in colonies, not as individuals.
Furthermore, thanks to the presence of Seong-hyeok, the Honeybee Guardian, the farm was already home to a diverse mix of bee species, wasn't it?
“This is a total jackpot.”
His deep affection for bees, greater than anyone else's, allowed Seong-hyeok to imagine it.
The Star Sapphire Queen Bee and the Star Sapphire bees that would soon be born.
The bee venom and honey that could be collected from them.
And what would happen if that buff was applied to the tens, hundreds of thousands of bees?
“...You’re an incredible one, aren’t you?”
*Wheeeing~♩*
This blue star was set to bring about another revolution in the world of bees.
As if she knew she was being praised, she wiggled her star-patterned abdomen, a sight that was not just cute but downright enchanting.
“You adorable thing. This will be your new home from now on.”
As much as he wanted to get to know the new queen better, Seong-hyeok held back.
It was an act of restraint that would have astonished anyone who knew of his love for bees.
But there was a reason for his swift action.
[Using Clock's Candy (★★★★★+).]
A 5-star+ grade consumable that not only reset a skill's cooldown upon consumption but also permanently reduced its total cooldown by 10%.
It went without saying which skill this would be applied to.
[The cooldown for Dimensional Queen Bee Capture (Lv.9) has been reset.]
Having reached level 50, Seong-hyeok could now possess a maximum of six queen bees.
“Shall we go one more time?”
Gripping the Honeybee Guardian’s net, which still had one more shot left, Seong-hyeok hurried to prepare for the arrival of another queen.
* * * * *
*Gulp, gulp-*
The now familiar, almost formulaic, pattern of splurging on luck.
But as the saying goes, no pain, no gain.
After enduring another round of the bittersweet taste of Four-Leaf Clovers and Luck Potions, the result was one that Seong-hyeok found deeply satisfying.
[Garnet Gem Queen Bee (★★★★+) has been registered to player Yu Seong-hyeok. Remaining queen bee slots: 6 / 6]
*Buzzzzzzz~*
The Garnet Gem Queen Bee boasted a deep, rich red hue, similar to the Ruby Gem but more intense.
Unlike the Star Sapphire, who had approached demurely, this one seemed to have a restless energy.
With a furious buzzing of her wings, the Garnet Gem Queen Bee dove straight into Seong-hyeok’s embrace.
“Calm down, calm down.”
Anyone else might have seen it as an attack, but Seong-hyeok knew better.
[The Honeybee Guardian's class trait, Loved by Bees, is activated.]
[The Garnet Gem Queen Bee (★★★★+) shows you boundless affection.]
An absolute affinity with all bee species.
*Wheeeing~*
He desperately wanted to indulge the youngest queen’s aggressive display of affection, but he had to take care of pending matters first.
“Just be still for a moment.”
Just as Seong-hyeok finally calmed the youngest queen and reached out to check her status…
An alert sound beat him to it, appearing before the status window could.
“...Huh?”
[Special Condition, you have met the requirements to open the Bee Hill. -> Coexistence of 7 or more different bee swarms]
It was a special Hidden Piece named ‘Bee Hill,’ which seemed to have a strong connection to bees.
Following the Land of Milk and Honey and the Bees’ Swarm Dance, the honeybees, the farm's hardest workers, had honorably placed their names on the list of top Hidden Piece beneficiaries once again.
“You praiseworthy little things. You’ve done it again.”
*Wheeeing!*
*Wheeeeing~*
As if they somehow knew, the bees flew over, wiggling their adorable abdomens, and Seong-hyeok beamed with a warm, fatherly smile.